Original paintings, hand-made jewellery, knitted stuff and anything else I try to create. Contact: c_bletsis@yahoo.co.uk -
All art works remain the copyright of the artist and cannot be reproduced without permission

Sunday, 27 October 2013

Now I Know How Much My Mother Loved Me!

My mum used to make me toys on occasion - I still have the rag doll she made me when I was three, a large, very battered doll called Arriety (from The Borrowers) that still smells the same as it did when I was little and evokes such memories.

I don't remember many others, but I do remember her knitting me a Clanger. I loved The Clangers, so did she! I found the original knitting pattern on the net, which must be the exact same one she probably sent away for from the BBC. It is pretty basic - there aren't any instructions for sewing together at all and I had to wing it.

I thought it wouldn't take me long as most of it was straight stocking stitch - how wrong I was! The ears were a nightmare - it didn't say they were supposed to be folded in two, I had to work that out for myself.
The fingers are supposed to be pipecleaners but I knitted them with Icord, a much safer option.

The tunic was difficult too - it just said to cut out felt shapes, embroider them and attach them together to make the tunic. Argh! I had to search for images of Clangers on my Kindle and keep checking that what I was doing looked OK.

However, for all the messing around, it was definitely worth it. This one is for sale in my Etsy shop - I do plan to make some more at some point in the future, or if you would like to place an order, feel free to do so.

Whistle-hoot-toot!
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It is one year to the day since we were in Boston on holiday and got caught in Hurricane Sandy. This year we are at home over half term and yet there is a predicted hurricane here in the UK, due to hit us overnight. Hmm, it's a bit windy out there but the sun is shining and my washing is drying nicely. I don't want to tempt fate, but I suspect our 'hurricane' won't be quite on a par with Sandy....I'll let you know tomorrow if we are still here or if we have been blown away!